BD Syringe Safety Alert Extended

An FDA warning about compounded drugs stored in Becton-Dickinson (BD) syringes now applies to 4 more syringe sizes as well as oral syringes.

Pharmacists were originally alerted not to use compounded or repackaged drugs stored in 3 mL and 5 mL BD general use syringes due to potential interaction with the syringe’s rubber stopper that can cause some drugs to lose potency.

Now, the FDA has expanded this safety warning to 1 mL, 10 mL, 20 mL, and 30 mL BD syringes, as well as BD oral syringes, for the same reason.

Fentanyl, rocuronium, neostigmine, morphine, midazolam, methadone, atropine, hydromorphone, cisatracurium, and remifentanyl can be affected by the stoppers, according to BD.

Hospital pharmacy staff should check supplies and remove drugs filled by pharmacies or outsourcing facilities and stored in these syringes, which are marked with the BD logo at the base. Health care professionals should not administer compounded or repackaged drugs that have been stored in any of these syringes unless there is no suitable alternative available.

BD has created a webpage for pharmacists to check whether their lots are affected.

Health care professionals are encouraged to report related side effects to the FDA’s MedWatch program.

“BD shares the FDA’s vigilance to educate health care providers about the proper use of its products to ensure safe medication practices and the safety of patients,” the company stated. “…BD will continue to diligently investigate the matter while transparently communicating relevant information in a timely manner.”